Queen

When you think of the music style "rock", few bands describe the whole scope of that genre better than the British band Queen.

Article By: Mike G

QUEEN - BRIEF OVERVIEW:

Queen was formed in 1970 when the band 'Smile' broke up, leaving Brian May and Roger Taylor to create their own band. They invited a friend of theirs, Farrokh Bulsara, to join them and called it Queen. In 1971, John Deacon (Or, Deacon John as the others called him at the time) replaced Mike Grose as the bassist, and the lineup for Queen was complete.

Their first album was self-titled, and featured Bulsara (now calling himself Freddie Mercury) on lead vocals/piano, Brian May on backup vocals/guitar/piano, Roger Taylor on backup vocals/drums, and John Deacon on bass. The album, released in 1973, failed to gain much recognition at all, and the group moved quickly to try and place themselves in the music greats. This rushed-ness resulted in two albums for 1974, 'Queen II' and 'Sheer Heart Attack'. 'Queen II' gave them recognition on Britain with the top ten single 'Seven Seas of Rhye', and 'Sheer Heart Attack' gave them worldwide recognition with their smash hit, 'Killer Queen'.

It was in 1975, however, that Queen would reach stardom. This year saw the release of 'A Night at the Opera', regarded by many as their most formidable album, and often listed as one of the greatest albums ever released. This astounding rock opera featured songs such as 'You're My Best Friend', a gentle ballad by John Deacon (who the others referred to by his real name at this point), 'The Prophet's Song', May's eight-minute epic, and Mercury's famous 'Bohemian Rhapsody', which became a number one on five continents. Queen's next big single was 'We Are the Champions', which, along with its B-side, 'We Will Rock You', became extremely popular with sportsfans.

In 1980, Queen finalized their position as world-class musicians with 'The Game', which featured songs such as Deacon's 'Another One Bites the Dust', and Mercury's 'Crazy Little Thing Called Love', both of which reached number one on the US billboard chart. Their reputation in the USA was ruined, however, with 1982's 'Hot Space', largely considered their worst album, with the exception of 'Under Pressure', Mercury's magical duet with David Bowie. Queen managed to save their reputation in Europe, however, thanks to 'The Works' and 'A Kind of Magic', the first of which featured Taylor's powerful 'Radio Ga Ga' and the latter containing Taylor's epic 'A Kind of Magic'.

It was in 1989 that Freddie Mercury was diagnosed with AIDS, and, on November 24, 1991, he passed away, right after the release of their popular album 'Innuendo'. In 1995, Queen's last studio album, 'Made in Heaven', was released. It became an instantaneous worldwide phenomenon, reaching number 1 in no less than 10 countries worldwide, and achieving a staggering 7,000,000 sales. It was a fitting tribute to one of the greatest bands to ever play musical instruments.

1. One Vision - (from the film "Iron Eagle")
2. Tie Your Mother Down
3. Seven Seas Of Rhye
4. A Kind Of Magic - (full live version)
5. Under Pressure
6. Another One Bites The Dust - (full live version)
7. mI Want To Break Free
8. Is This The World We Created?

9. Bohemian Rhapsody
10. Hammer To Fall - (full live version)
11. Radio Ga-Ga
12. We Will Rock You
13. Friends Will Be Friends
14. We Are The Champions
15. God Save The Queen

Live At Wembley Stadium
(Released May, 1992) (Recorded July, 1986)

DISC 1:
1. One Vision
2. Tie Your Mother Down
3. In The Lap Of The Gods
4. Seven Seas Of Rhye
5. Tear It Up
6. A Kind Of Magic
7. Under Pressure
8. Another One Bites The Dust
9. Who Wants To Live Forever
10. I Want To Break Free
11. Impromptu
12. Brighton Rock Solo
13. Now I'm Here

DISC 2:
1. Love Of My Life
2. Is This The World We Created
3. Baby I Don't Care, (You're So Square)
4. Hello Mary Lou (Goodbye Heart)
5. Tutti Frutti
6. Gimme Some Lovin'
7. Bohemian Rhapsody
8. Hammer To Fall
9. Crazy Little Thing Called Love
10. Big Spender
11. Radio Ga Ga
12. We Will Rock You
13. Friends Will Be Friends
14. We Are The Champions
15. God Save The Queen

Queen At The BBC
(Released 1995) (Recorded 1973)

1. My Fairy King
2. Keep Yourself Alive
3. Doing All Right
4. Liar

5. Ogre Battle
6. Great King Rat
7. Modern Times Rock'n'Roll
8. Son And Daughter

Queen on Fire - Live at the Bowl
(Released Oct. 2004) (Recorded June 5, 1982)

DISC 1:
1. Flash
2. The Hero
3. We Will Rock You (Fast)
4. Action This Day
5. Play The Game
6. Staying Power
7. Somebody To Love
8. Now I'm Here
9. Dragon Attack
10. Now I'm Here (Reprise)
11. Love Of My Life
12. Save Me
13. Back Chat

DISC 2:
1. These Are the Days of Our Lives
2. Radio Ga Ga
3. Can't Get Enough
4. A Kind of Magic
5. I Want It All
6. Bohemian Rhapsody
7. The Show Must Go On
8. All Right Now
9. We Will Rock You
10. We Are the Champions
11. God Save the Queen
12. It's A Beautiful Day (Remix) (from DVD)
13. Imagine (from DVD)

TOP 10 GREATEST QUEEN SONGS:- - - Song Title (Songwriter) Album - - -

(1. Bohemian Rhapsody (Mercury) A Night at the Opera(2. We Will Rock You/We Are the Champions (Mercury/May) News of the World(3. Another One Bites the Dust (Deacon) The Game(4. Under Pressure (Queen and David Bowie) Hot Space(5. Crazy Little Thing Called Love (Mercury) The Game(6. Killer Queen (Mercury) Sheer Heart Attack(7. I Want to Break Free (Deacon) The Works(8. Somebody to Love (Mercury) A Day at the Races(9. Innuendo (Mercury) Innuendo(10. Radio Ga Ga (Taylor) The WorksFull Top 100 Song List

A FEW GREAT LYRICS:

I see a little silhouette of a man!
Scaramouche, Scaramouche, will you do the fandango?
Thunderbolt and lightning, very, very frightening me!
Galileo! Galileo! Galileo! Galileo! Galileo Figaro!
Magnifico!- Bohemian Rhapsody

While we live according to race, color, or creed.
While we rule by blind madness and pure greed.
Our lives dictated by tradition, superstition, false religion.
Through the hours, and hours and hours.
Oh, we'll keep on trying.
Tread that fine line.
Oh, we'll keep on smiling.
Till the end of time.
Till the end of time!- Innuendo

We watch the shows,
We watch the stars,
On videos for hours and hours.
We hardly need to use our ears,
How music changes through the years &
Radio.- Radio Ga Ga

And two by two, my human zoo will be
Running for to come, running for to come,
Out of the rain!
Flee for your lives!
Who heed me not, let all your treasure make you.
Fear for you life!
Decieve you not, the fires of hell will take you,
Should death await you?- The Prophet's Song

Open hearts in surgery,
Sunday mornings with a cup of tea!
Superpowers always fighting,
But the Mona Lisa just keeps on smiling,
It's a miracle!- The Miracle